Each year, South Marston Parish Council undergo both an internal and external audit to ensure that we are effectively managing our finances and that our internal processes are working.

As part of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No.234), Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Transparency Code, members of the local electorate are welcome to request to view the accounts of the Council.

Details of this as well as copies of the Annual Return (which is completed as part of our external audit) can be seen below.

As part of a project to capture aerial footage of the land within the New Eastern Villages development area, we have given Swindon Borough Council permission to land a drone on the Recreation Ground.

The drone will be shooting footage and landing on the Recreation Ground as needed. The drone controllers will be ensuring that it does not land near residents or interfere with any activities taking place.

An appeal has been lodged against the refusal of the Borough to grant permission for the Energy Centre at Keypoint.

Two reasons were given for the refusal:

1. The proposed Renewable Energy Centre would introduce a visually dominant, intrusive and unsightly feature in a highly prominent location, which would substantially harm the visual setting of Swindon and its surrounding local area and which could prejudice delivery of Swindon’s development strategy…..

2. The applicant has failed to demonstrate a need for the strategic scale waste management facility. In the absence of a local need, and in the absence of a robust assessment of potentially suitable sites closer to the source of the waste, waste would need to be transported to the facility from beyond the local area, contrary to the proximity principle and contrary to the principles of sustainable development….

The appeal will be determined by a Government appointed inspector based on those 2 grounds.

Air pollution was not one of the reasons given for refusal because the planning officers advised that this was an issue for “other regulatory bodies”. In the event that the appeal is successful, this is something that the PC will have to pursue.